Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Racecar Engineering

Every now and then you will hear it said of a racecar, ‘if you can drive that fast, you can drive anything fast’. One car that has consistently been described in these terms is the Porsche 911, and the many iterations of this classic that have appeared on the world’s race circuits since it was launched some 62 years ago. With an engine towards the back, Porsche’s most famous model has always bitten the unwary and less skilled, and it takes a certain driving style to be quick in a 911. Which is why not everyone has been able to cut it when offered an outing in one of Porsche’s 13 one-make Cup championships across the globe, or the F1-supporting Supercup. It’s also why those who do excel in a…

Due to quirks of scheduling, for the first time, the three biggest 24-hour races of the European season followed each other on successive weekends in June 2025. Each featured GT3 cars, either as the sole category, as the fastest cars on track, or the slowest cars on track, depending on the series. On paper, it all should have been quite straightforward. In reality, though, it was anything but. The cars may have been the same models – BMW M4 GT3 Evos, Porsche 911 GT3 Rs, Ferrari 296 GT3s and the like – but the different technical and sporting regulations meant the manufacturers represented in each of the three races faced event-specific requirements that were, to put it mildly, challenging. The first leg of the triple-header was the 24 Hours of…

The trickle-down effect is present in all areas of racing technology, and dampers are no exception. In the GT classes – GT3 and GT4 in particular – the past decade has seen the capabilities of dampers available to teams increase considerably, often drawing on technologies developed in prototypes and Formula 1. This development has gone hand in hand with the growth in engineering capabilities of teams at the top of GT3, along with greater availability of tools that allow them to fully understand their chassis packages and properly utilise some of the most advanced damping technology available. Dampers used in GT racecars can be roughly categorised into two types: monotube and twin tube. Although there are numerous variations within these definitions (and even the odd triple tube design floating around),…

BTCC seeks to boost grid variety The British Touring Car Championship is seeking to boost the variety of cars appearing on its grid with updates to the new regulations arriving in 2027. The current NGTC car platform, which has been around since 2011, will continue through the next five-year rule cycle. It means current cars will remain eligible during that period, but the championship has also removed some important restrictions on car model usage and engine choice. Currently, a car may only be used in the BTCC if the model is sold in the UK. That requirement will be removed from 2027, with models sold overseas permitted if the car manufacturer sells vehicles to the UK market, and if the chosen model respects current NGTC dimensions. To qualify, the vehicle…

‘We’re on the ragged edge with these cars. They’re so mature now, and we’re trying to squeeze that much out of them’ James Key, technical director at Sauber Sauber scored six points in the first eight races of the 2025 season. That’s two points more than the team logged in the entire 2024 season but, in terms of performance, the new C45 was a disappointment. All six points came at the start of the season, in the rain chaos at Melbourne, when Nico Hülkenberg somehow managed to keep the car on a slippery track. Because Sauber scored its previous four points in the penultimate race of the 2024 campaign, many hoped that signified evidence of a turnaround; that car development had borne fruit, and the team was finally…

Porsche’s new 911 Cup car has big shoes to fill. More than 1100 examples of the first-generation 992 Cup car have been sold around the world, and the German manufacturer is expecting a similar sales figure for the replacement model. It’s a big task, as the chassis are assembled on the same production line as the regular 911 road cars, but Porsche says it will build five vehicles per day, 25 per week, with the factory working at full capacity. Not only will Porsche have to produce the cars, but teams will also need time to adjust to the new aerodynamic concept that governs it, compared to the previous 992.1 generation. There are three radiators mounted at the front, as before, but the central radiator has moved to the rear…

Dan Ticktum’s eyes lit up when asked about the next generation of Formula E cars during a press conference at the 2025 London E-Prix. ‘Power’ was the British driver’s straight response, delivered with a grin. Reigning FIA Formula E world champion, Oliver Rowland, then added to his competitor’s viewpoint, declaring, ‘It’s going to be a beast.’ The Gen4 technical regulations, published in June 2025, promise a higher power output, permanent four-wheel drive, more front axle regeneration and more downforce. This has given the existing crop of drivers something to look forward to when the new vehicles debut in the 2026-’27 season, as their reactions in London suggested. ‘The simulations and speed trace numbers I’ve seen, it’s going to be a proper racing car,’ continued Rowland. ‘The pace will be arguably…

The 2026 Formula 1 season is fast approaching, bringing with it high expectations from the fans and the weighty anticipation of a new era in the championship’s history. Much has already been written, and said, on the matter. The FIA is introducing sweeping regulatory changes that will result in completely new car architectures for next season. The primary goal of these changes is to make the racing more engaging, with closer battles, more overtaking opportunities and less predictable outcomes. Hyperbole aside, there are two compelling reasons to look forward to 2026. First, the FIA has succeeded in bringing major automotive players such as Audi, Cadillac and Ford onto the grid, a development that’s always welcome among fans and a healthy sign for the sport’s future. Second, history shows that radical…

Porsche has unveiled its latest GT3 challenger, an Evo update of the existing 992 model. The car is, says Porsche, easier for teams to set up, more predictable for drivers, and therefore more suitable for the paying non-professionals that frequently occupy the space behind the wheel. All this after extensive feedback from customer teams around the world. While the engine and gearbox remain unchanged from the previous iteration, the manufacturer has also taken the opportunity to add cooling to key components, such as the steering rack and the driveshafts. In the past these items have presented concerns, although Porsche is at pains to note they have not yet contributed to a DNF. The updated Porsche 911 GT3 R has already tested in race conditions at the 12 Hours of Spa,…

Balance is important in motorsport. Whether that’s the aero balance along a racecar, the delicate balance on the throttle when a car is on the limit of adhesion or balancing the books. There’s another balance continually at play, though, that many will not be aware of, and that’s the calculations the national governing bodies have to make when it comes to setting regulations. The balance part comes in not pricing competitors out of the sport. The organisation responsible for these calculations in Britain has been known as Motorsport UK since a rebranding in 2018. It was previously the Motor Sport Association (MSA) and, before that, the RAC Motor Sports Association (RACMSA). For the past five years, it’s been based at Bicester Motion, the vibrant historic automotive and motorsport engineering hub…